Ask for what you want

"You do not have because you do not ask.'"James 4:2 NKJV

Do you ever wonder how to ask God for what you want?  Is there a right way to pray to God?

There are times I feel like I need to pray just the right way.  Maybe if I use the right words and have the correct attitude, I can convince God to do what I want. Do you ever fall into the same pattern of thinking?

Oh, Dear One, let me encourage you.  God doesn’t answer our prayers just because we checked all the boxes during our prayer.  He isn’t looking for perfect words or attitudes. There isn’t a right way to pray. He wants to hear our needs and our hearts (Psalm 62:8).

Some people know what they want and have courage to ask for it. Others know what they don't want and are able to express this in a way that doesn't create hostility. If you do not practise asking for what you desire, you will live in frustration. You may also become resentful that people don't detect your needs or desires without you informing them. Some people let others violate their boundaries while they suffer in silence instead of asking for a change in behaviour.

Asking for what you want may be hardest in a work environment. Never assume that your welfare is topmost in your boss' mind. This is not a charge against them but an acknowledgment that they're probably occupied with their own issues. Example: if you're a salaried employee and have been steadily working lots of hours of unpaid overtime, try asking for a special bonus for some of the amount it would have cost the company if they had paid you for the time. Offer a well-thought-out analysis or ask for some time off equal to a portion of what the hours would convert to in a number of days. Of course, pray and believe God for favour before you ask. If that fails, keep being excellent at your work and start thinking of Plan B for your career.

A businesswoman writes: 'One of the most unique attributes that God has given to us is the ability to communicate. We do not have to stress out wishing or hoping that someone will read our minds when we could just ask for what we want.'

Jesus tells us to pray for what we want and need with expectance. He shows us how to A.S.K. God for what we want and need.

Ask. Seek. Knock.

“Ask and it will be given to you” (This is praying in a bold way. When we ask God for something we are letting him know we believe he can answer our request and this takes boldness.)

“Seek and you will find.” (This is praying in an even bolder way. It’s the next level up from asking. Seeking requires effort and takes time.)

“Knock and the door will be opened to you.” (This is praying in the boldest way. Knocking at a door is interruptive, takes persistence and puts you in a position where you risk being rejected or ignored.)

In the Greek language, these three words (ask, seek and knock) are in the present, active, imperative tense. This simply means they could read, as the NLT puts them, “Keep asking…Keep seeking…Keep knocking.“

God wants us to pray with persistence and boldness. He wants us to make it our habit to ask him and keep asking him until he answers.

I wonder how many prayers are unrealized due to a lack of A.S.K.ing. I wonder how many times we give up too soon and miss out on the blessing of God saying “Yes!”

We must be like the persistent widow who kept coming to the judge until he caved in and granted her request (Luke 18:1-8.)

We must be like the bold man who kept knocking on his neighbour’s door in the middle of the night with an emergency request until his neighbour got out of bed and answered the door (Luke 11:5-8.)

May we Ask until we lose our voices. May we Seek until we find. May we Knock on heaven’s door until our knuckles bleed and God says YES to our request!